Collapsible signal assembly

ABSTRACT

A collapsible signal assembly has components removably secured to the base of the assembly in a manner to prevent unauthorized removal of the components. The securing means for all but a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;key&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; component are blocked from removal by the close presence of an adjacent component, and the securing means for the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;key&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; component is protectively covered by a lockable guard.

United States Patent Sayles 51 July 11, 1972 [$4] COLLAPSIBLE SIGNAL ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Louis 1-. Sayles, 909 Robidoux St., St.

Joseph, Mo. 64501 [22] Filed: May 28, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 41,221

52 us. Cl ..ll6/63 P, 40/125, 256/64,

340/81, 340/1 15 5| Int. Cl. ..E0l19/l0 ss Fleld Search ..ll6/63, 63 P; 240/2, 2 a;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,880 5/1950 Bell ..256/64 2,517,982 8/1950 Crocker..... 2,564,145 8/1951 Beall et a1 2,648,761 8/1953 Shamel...................................240/2 B 2,777,415 1/1957 Martin et a1. ..1 16/63 2,896,918 7/1959 Ward 256/64 3,015,804 1/1962 Nunn ..340/81 3,264,461 8/1966 Osburn.... .......240/2 8 3,490,749 1/1970 Anderson ..40/125 N X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 842,494 5/1970 Canada ..256/64 Primary Elxaminer- Louis .1. Capozi Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams ABSTRACT A collapsible signal assembly has components removably secured to the base of the assembly in a manner to prevent unauthorized removal of the components. The securing means for all but a key component are blocked from removal by the close presence of an adjacent component, and the securing means for the key component is protectively covered by a lockable guard.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'TEOJUL 11 m2 3.675.613

INVENTOR. Lows F. Sayles ATTORNEYS.

COLLAPSIBLE SIGNAL ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to warning devices and, more particularly, to a collapsible signal device which is especially suited for use at maintenance or construction sites.

Portable signal assemblies play an important role in warning of proximate danger areas such as at road repair sites, excavations, or the like, but are inherently susceptible to theft; especially removable flasher units and warning flags have been objects of such thefts.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a collapsible signal assembly having components which are only removable by authorized persons. In furtherance of this object, it is an important aim of the invention to removably secure such components to the assembly base in positions whereby the securing means of all but a key" component are blocked from removal by the close presence of an adjacent component.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide lockable guard structure for protectively covering the securing means of such a key" component.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a signal assembly made pursuant to the present invention and located at a danger site;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the reverse side of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the guard plate moved away from its protective, covering disposition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 55 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The present signal assembly includes a base 10 comprising a generally inverted L-shaped member 12 having a pair of legs 14 and 16 and a removable A-shaped section 18. Section 18 is secured to leg l4 of member 12 and has a pair of rod-like supports 20 and 22 joined at their upper ends and diverging as the ground is approached.

A flashing signal device 24 is releasably secured to leg 14 of member 12 by means of a bolt 26 extending into threaded engagement with the body 28 of the device 24. As shown best in FIG. 4, the head portion of bolt 26 projects outwardly from one side of leg 14 when device 24 is secured in place.

Guard means in the nature of a cover plate 30 is swingably carried on the above-mentioned one side of leg 14 by means of a guide shaft 32 projecting outwardly from leg 14. Plate 30 is slidable along shaft 32 to and from a position protectively covering bolt 26 and has a cavity 34 in the inner face thereof for receiving the projecting head portion of bolt 26. A transverse hole 36 through shaft 32 provides an opening for receiving the loop of a padlock 38 or similar device for locking plate 30 in its position covering the head of bolt 26. As will hereinafter become clear, the flasher device 24 serves as the key component among the progressively interlocking components of the assembly and must, therefore, be provided with a special protective structure such as cover plate 30 and padlock 38.

In addition to the flasher device 24, the assembly is also provided with an auxiliary flag element 40 removably secured to leg I6 of member 12. Further, an additional flag structure 42 may be removably secured to leg 16 to provide extra warning. The flag element 40 has a standard 44 which is received within an upright tube 46 rigid to leg 16. A pair of openings (not shown) in tube 46 align with similar openings (not shown) in standard 44 for receiving a pair of element retaining means in the nature of bolts 48 which extend through tube 46 and engage standard 44 to securely hold the latter in place. The bolts 48 are disposed in alignment with body 28 of flasher device 24, and the spacing between these parts is such that body 28 serves to block removal of the bolts 48 when device 24 is secured to leg I4. It is, therefore, important that bolts 48 only be removable from tube 46 in the direction of device 24.

The flag structure 42 has a standard 50 which is received within an upright tube 52 rigid to leg 16 and longer than tube 46 as shown in FIG. 6. The standard 50 is secured within tube 52 by means of a pair of bolts 54 which extend through tube 52 and standard 50 and are in alignment with standard 44. The bolts 54 may be removed only in the direction of standard 44 and the close spacing between the two standards 44 and 50 and special alignment thereof causes standard 44 to block removal of the bolts 54 when standard 44 is secured within tube 46.

In addition to arranging the signal components of the assembly in a manner to preclude unauthorized removal thereof, the removable section 18 forming a part of base I0 is also protected against unauthorized removal. To this end, a tubular receptacle 56 is obliquely welded to leg I4 in disposition for receiving the uppermost end portions of section l8. Supports 20 and 22 are configured at their upper ends to present a series of open loops 58, 60 and 62 (FIG. 5), central loop 60 receiving leg 14 and loop 62 receiving a bolt 64 which passes through and interlocks receptacle 56 and section 18. Bolt 64 is disposed in alignment with body 28 of flasher device 24 and is removable only in the direction of the latter. Once again the spacing between device 24 and bolt 64 causes device 24 to block removal of bolt 64 when device 24 is secured to leg 14. Without the complete removal of bolt 64, section I8 cannot be separated from the remainder of the assembly.

Additional warning devices such as a flare pct 66 may be suspended from the outer end of leg 14 as desired, and a flat projecting plate 68 having "DANGER printed thereon may be welded to leg 16. In the event that a wide, open trench is encountered, a suitable member such as a board 70 may be used to span the trench, thereby permitting leg 16 to be placed on board 70 to position the signal assembly for maximum safety.

Because of the special blocking relationship which device 24 maintains with the remainder of the assembly components, it is necessary that device 24 be the last component secured to member 12 when the signal assembly is being set up for use. Initially, it is suggested that section 18 be positioned within the receptacle 56 and bolt 64 inserted in its proper location. It is important at this point to remember that the head of bolt 64 should be disposed on the side of receptacle 56 facing leg I6.

Thereafter, if both the flag element 40 and the flag structure 42 are to be utilized, standard 50 of structure 42 should be initially inserted into tube 52. The bolts 54 may then be inserted in their proper locations, insuring that the heads of bolts 54 are disposed on the side of tube 52 facing tube 46. Standard 44 may then be secured within tube 46, making sure that the heads of bolts 48 are disposed on the side of tube 46 facing receptacle 56.

Finally, the flasher device 24 may be secured to leg 14, and cover plate 30 locked in its protective position covering the head of bolt 26. In this manner, the device 24 serves as a key" component which must be removed first in order to remove any of the other components of the assembly, including section 18. Therefore, theft of the individual components of the assembly may be prevented by providing only authorized persons with a key to the padlock 38 with which to begin the chain of steps for dismantling the assembly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I. A collapsible signal assembly comprising:

a base including a member and a removable section;

a signal device;

means for releasably securing the signal device to the member;

a guide shah projecting outwardly from said member;

shifiable guard means carried by said shaft and movable therealong to and from a position protectively covering said releasable means;

means for locking said guard means in said covering position; and

shiftable means for releasably interlocking the section the member, said device blocking said shiftable means from movement out of said interlocking condition thereof when the device is secured to the member.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein a portion of said releasable means extends through said member and projects outwardly from one side thereof, said guard means comprising a cover plate having a cavity in one face thereof for receiving said projecting portion.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said plate is swingable about said shaft away from said projecting portion when the latter is disposed outside of said cavity.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein is provided a flag element said member including a tube for receiving the element, and shiftable element retaining means extending through said tube into engagement with said element and in alignment with said device.

5. The invention of claim 1, said member including a recepmole. for said section, the shiftable means extending through said receptacle into engagement with said section and in alignment with the device.

6. The invention of claim 4, wherein said assembly includes a removable structure; and shiftable means for releasably interlocking the structure with the member, said element blocking said last-mentioned shiflable means from movement out of said interlocking condition thereof when the element is interlocked with the member.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said element and said structure comprise first and second flag standards respectively. said member including a pair of tubes for receiving the standards, the shiflable means for said second standard extending through the corresponding tube into engagement with said second standard and in alignment with said first standard when the latter is secured within its corresponding tube.

I 8 1 t i 

1. A collapsible signal assembly comprising: a base including a member and a removable section; a signal device; means for releasably securing the signal device to the member; a guide shaft projecting outwardly from said member; shiftable guard means carried by said shaft and movable therealong to and from a position protectively covering said releasable means; means for locking said guard means in said covering position; and shiftable means for releasably interlocking the section with the member, said device blocking said shiftable means from movement out of said interlocking condition thereof when the device is secured to the member.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein a portion of said releasable means extends through said member and projects outwardly from one side thereof, said guard means comprising a cover plate having a cavity in one face thereof for receiving said projecting portion.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said plate is swingable about said shaft away from said projecting portion when the latter is disposed outside of said cavity.
 4. The invention of claim 1, wherein is provided a flag element said member including a tube for receiving the element, and shiftable element retaining means extending through said tube into engagement with said element and in alignment with said device.
 5. The invention of claim 1, said member including a receptacle for said section, the shiftable means extending through said receptacle into engagement with said section and in alignment with the device.
 6. The invention of claim 4, wherein said assembly includes a removable structure; and shiftable means for releasably interlocking the structure with the member, said element blocking said last-mentioned shiftable means from movement out of said interlocking condition thereof when the element is interlocked with the member.
 7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said element and said structure comprise first and second flag standards respectively, said member including a pair of tubes for receiving the standards, the shiftable means for said second standard extending through the corresponding tube into engagement with said second standard and in alignment with said first standard when the latter is secured within its corresponding tube. 